About this recording
886–7
- President Richard M. Nixon
- John D. Ehrlichman
March 21, 1973
Conversation No. 886-7
Date: March 21, 1973
Time: Unknown time between 9:15 am and 10:12 am
Location: Oval Office
The President met with John D. Ehrlichman.
Meeting with George P. Shultz
-Scheduling
-Stephen B. Bull
-Shultz's return
President's schedule
-Trip to Florida
-Speech preparation
-Relaxation
-Meeting with Shultz and Ehrlichman
-Shultz's return
-Arrangements
-President's departure
-Topics of discussion
-International monetary situation
-Phase III economic controls
-Tax program
-Trade tactics
Shultz
-President’s conversation with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
-Workload
-Trade with United Soviet Socialist Republic [USSR]
-Henry A. Kissinger
-Frederick B. Dent
-Importance
-Energy
-William E. Simon
-Amount of time
-Phase III economic controls
-International monetary situation
-Areas of concentration
-7-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sept. 2010)
Conversation No. 886-7 (cont’d)
-Petroleum policy
-Gen. George A. Lincoln
-Import quotas
-Energy
-Trade
-Taxes
-Prices
-Energy
-Simon
-Specialty
-Ability
-Labor Department
-Peter J. Brennan
-Under secretary
-Richard F. Schubert
-Lawyer
-Labor Department experience
-Announcement of appointment
Assistant secretaries at Labor Department
-William H. Kolberg, John H. Stender
-Brennan
-Shultz
-Appointments
-Brennan
-Public relations role
-Caspar W. (“Cap”) Weinberger
-Democrats
-Number of loyalists
-Problems
-Problems with Department of Health, Education and Welfare [HEW]
-Approach to problems
Shultz
-Meetings with President, Ehrlichman
-Arrangements
-Conclusion
-Length
-Termination of meeting
-8-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sept. 2010)
Conversation No. 886-7 (cont’d)
-Helicopter
-John A. Volpe
-Value
-Effects of travel
Book by Daniel P. (“Pat”) Moynihan
-Pakistan
-US relations with India
-Aid
-USSR, People’s Republic of China [PRC]
-Loyalty to President
-Conclusion
-Problems
-Book by [First name unknown Burke]
-Los Angeles Times
Welfare bill
-Uncertainties
-Risk
-Work requirements
-Talmadge amendment
-Herman Kahn's comments
-Negative income tax
-Variety of opinions
-Congress
-Tough stance
-President's leadership in changing attitudes
-Working poor
-Help
-Tax credits
-Parochial school aid
-Negative income tax
-Child tax credit
-Housing aid
-Medical aid
-Social workers
Ehrlichman’s schedule
-9-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sept. 2010)
Conversation No. 886-7 (cont’d)
Food prices
-News summary
-Press coverage
-Lyndon K. (“Mort”) Allin
-White paper
-James W. McLane
-Statements on diet
-Meat
-Fish
-Balanced diet
-Fair prices
-President's example
-Chicken consumption
-Fish consumption
-Florida
-Virginia H. Knauer's comments
-Shopping
-Beef
-President's actions
-Press coverage
-Hugh Scott's comments
-Ronald L. Ziegler's briefing
-Scott's comments
-Earl L. Butz
-Problems
-Republican Party
-Influence of Agriculture Department
-Stockpile problem
-Butz's undermining
-Use of discretionary powers
-Memorandum from President
-Opposition to President's policy on stockpiles
-Stockpiles
-Administration team
-Frederic V. Malek and member of Kenneth R. Cole, Jr.’s staff
-Visits to Cabinet officers
-Ehrlichman’s meeting with Butz
-Price controls
-Simon
-10-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sept. 2010)
Conversation No. 886-7 (cont’d)
-Phase III economic controls
-Pressure from Wall Street
Simon
-Judgment of food price
-Wall Street
-Bernard J. (\"Bunny\") Lasker, Nicholas S. Nunzio [?]
-President’s comments
-Work with Shultz
-Food prices
-Ehrlichman’s conversation with Shultz
Economy
-Simon, John T. Dunlop, Shultz, Arthur F. Burns
-Budget cuts
-Prime rates
-Increases
-Simon
-Jawboning
-Phase III economic controls
-Lack of confidence
-Wall Street reaction
-Lack of confidence
-Dunlop
-View of economic problems
-Optimism
-Dealings with labor
-Railroads
-Rubber
-Shultz
-Work with George Meany
-Gross National Product [GNP]
-Inflation rate
-Phase II, Phase III
-Optimism
-Campaign issue
-Press coverage
-Food prices
-Administration's responses
-11-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sept. 2010)
Conversation No. 886-7 (cont’d)
-Effectiveness
-Administration's policymakers
-Shultz, Herbert Stein and Paul W. McCracken
-Competence
-Ehrlichman's judgment
-Recession of 1970
-Mildness
-Conditions
-Press coverage
-Effect on public attitudes
-Vietnam settlement
-Prisoners of War [POWs] return
-Wounded Knee incident
-Prices
-Watergate
-Impoundment
-Congressional relations
-Portrayal of crises
President's second administration
-Eastern establishment
-Sense of panic
-Office of Economic Opportunity [OEO] issue
-Fear of success, activism
-OEO issue
-Howard J. Phillips
-Misinterpretation
-William T. Cahill [?]
-Patrick J. Buchanan
-Speeches
-Clearance with Ehrlichman
-Vice President Spiro T. Agnew
-Public statements
-Defense of L. Patrick Gray, III
-President’s defense of Sherman Adams
-Dwight D. Eisenhower
-Phillips
-Criticisms
-Clearance of speeches
-12-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sept. 2010)
Conversation No. 886-7 (cont’d)
-Criticism of administration
-Vietnam War
-Peace with honor
-December 1972 bombing of North Vietnam
-Peace groups prolonging war
-Kissinger
-Return of POW's
-Public reception
Vietnam
-POWs
-Capt. James A. Mulligan, Jr.
-Appearance on television [TV]
-Columbia Broadcast System
-News summary
-Accent
-Statements
-Support for President
-Necessity of 1972 December 1972 bombing
-Criticism of CBS, US visitors to Hanoi
-Prolonging war
-Effect on POW morals
-Propaganda for North Vietnamese
-Patriotism
-Flag
-National anthem
-December 1972bombing
-Impact on outcome of war, morale of POWs
-Statements
-Collection and publication
-Title
-December 1972 bombing
-Distribution
-Press coverage
-John F. Kennedy, Franklin D. Roosevelt
-Impact on public
-POW statements
-George S. McGovern
-Hobart D. (“Hobe”) Lewis
-13-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sept. 2010)
Conversation No. 886-7 (cont’d)
-Administration involvement
Udall bill
-Lewis
-Free speech
Impoundment
-Gerald R. Ford
-Statement
-Budget deficit
-Public relations
-Tax increase
-Figures
-Amount impounded
-Comparison with Lyndon B. Johnson administration
Watergate
-Gray
-Ziegler's statement
-Testimony to Congress
-White House instructions
-Investigation
-Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI] raw files
-Administration position
-Gray testimony
-Release to Congress
-J. Edgar Hoover precedent
-Opposition
-Proper procedures
-Administration's policy
-Publicity
-News summary
-President's past statements
-Lowell P. Weicker, Jr.
-Questioning
-Committee's questions
-Watergate
-Gray's instructions
-Deal between Richard G. Kleindienst and James O. Eastland
-14-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sept. 2010)
Conversation No. 886-7 (cont’d)
-Confusion
-Ziegler's statements
-Administration's policy
-President's instructions
-FBI raw files
-Constraints
-Kleindienst
-Press conferences
Press conferences
-Staff meeting
-Press relations
-Kleindienst
-Reluctance
-Management issue
Law enforcement
-Administration's advantages
-Martin Z. Agronsky and other critics
-Capital punishment
-Drug abuse
-Capital Punishment
-State laws
-Kahn
-Comparison with Counterreformation
-Divestiture of federal power
-Opposition
-Revenue sharing
New federalism
-Divestiture of power
-Responsibility to localities
-Walter H. Judd's campaign speech in 1960
-Analogy about daughter
-Law enforcement
-Increased toughness
-Permissiveness
-Attacks on drug pushers
-Kleindienst
-15-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sept. 2010)
Conversation No. 886-7 (cont’d)
-Ethical tone one of society
-Watergate
-Rejection of permissiveness
-1960s
-Opposition to law
-Radicals
-Disrespect for flag
-Pornography
-Respect for patriotism, family, religion
-Role of government
-Local government
-Law enforcement
-Welfare
-Trickle-down theory
-Poor
-President's goals
-1973 inaugural speech
-Comparison with Kennedy's 1961 inaugural speech
-Comparison with universities
-Ministers
-Compassion
-Criminals
-Murderers, rapists
-Role of parents
-Administration's goals
-Toughness
-Law enforcement
-Drug abuse
-Developmentally disabled
-Press opposition
-Isolationism in foreign policy
-Strength of US
-Threat to world
-Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy, McGovern
Human nature
******************************************************************************
-16-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sept. 2010)
Conversation No. 886-7 (cont’d)
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]
-Christian Scientists
-Quakerism
-Inherent character
-Impossibility of perfection
[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
******************************************************************************
-Religious beliefs
-Jean Jacques Rousseau
-Noble savages
-Civilization
-Evil nature
-Bible
-Two versions of Creation
-Fall from Grace
-Old Testament
-New Testament
******************************************************************************
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]
-Religious sermons
-Hellfire and damnation
-President’s dislike
[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
******************************************************************************
-Contemporary US
-Softness
-Episcopalians
-Presbyterians
-Humanism
-17-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sept. 2010)
Conversation No. 886-7 (cont’d)
-Religious mystery
-Youth
-Reversion to fundamentalism
-Jesus freaks
Press relations
-Food prices
-Law and order
-Agnew
-Support for Gray
Summer youth program
-Administration's plans
-Positive publicity
-Cole's briefing
-Clearance process
-Mayors, Congress
-Summer violence
-Funding
-Summer violence
-Respectability
-Press coverage
-Blacks
-Jesse L. Jackson
-Projection of attitude
-Vernon L. Jordan
-Criticism of administration
-Conversation with Ehrlichman
-Cabinet meeting
-Revenue-sharing
-New Reconstruction
-Stanley S. Scott
-Arthur Fletcher
-Black colleges
-Problems
-Jordan
-Criticism of administration
-Ehrlichman’s response
-Funding cuts
-18-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sept. 2010)
Conversation No. 886-7 (cont’d)
-“Good Indian”
Rogers C. B. Morton [?]
Ehrlichman left at an unknown time before 10:12 am.
Date: March 21, 1973
Time: Unknown time between 9:15 am and 10:12 am
Location: Oval Office
The President met with John D. Ehrlichman.
Meeting with George P. Shultz
-Scheduling
-Stephen B. Bull
-Shultz's return
President's schedule
-Trip to Florida
-Speech preparation
-Relaxation
-Meeting with Shultz and Ehrlichman
-Shultz's return
-Arrangements
-President's departure
-Topics of discussion
-International monetary situation
-Phase III economic controls
-Tax program
-Trade tactics
Shultz
-President’s conversation with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
-Workload
-Trade with United Soviet Socialist Republic [USSR]
-Henry A. Kissinger
-Frederick B. Dent
-Importance
-Energy
-William E. Simon
-Amount of time
-Phase III economic controls
-International monetary situation
-Areas of concentration
-7-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sept. 2010)
Conversation No. 886-7 (cont’d)
-Petroleum policy
-Gen. George A. Lincoln
-Import quotas
-Energy
-Trade
-Taxes
-Prices
-Energy
-Simon
-Specialty
-Ability
-Labor Department
-Peter J. Brennan
-Under secretary
-Richard F. Schubert
-Lawyer
-Labor Department experience
-Announcement of appointment
Assistant secretaries at Labor Department
-William H. Kolberg, John H. Stender
-Brennan
-Shultz
-Appointments
-Brennan
-Public relations role
-Caspar W. (“Cap”) Weinberger
-Democrats
-Number of loyalists
-Problems
-Problems with Department of Health, Education and Welfare [HEW]
-Approach to problems
Shultz
-Meetings with President, Ehrlichman
-Arrangements
-Conclusion
-Length
-Termination of meeting
-8-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sept. 2010)
Conversation No. 886-7 (cont’d)
-Helicopter
-John A. Volpe
-Value
-Effects of travel
Book by Daniel P. (“Pat”) Moynihan
-Pakistan
-US relations with India
-Aid
-USSR, People’s Republic of China [PRC]
-Loyalty to President
-Conclusion
-Problems
-Book by [First name unknown Burke]
-Los Angeles Times
Welfare bill
-Uncertainties
-Risk
-Work requirements
-Talmadge amendment
-Herman Kahn's comments
-Negative income tax
-Variety of opinions
-Congress
-Tough stance
-President's leadership in changing attitudes
-Working poor
-Help
-Tax credits
-Parochial school aid
-Negative income tax
-Child tax credit
-Housing aid
-Medical aid
-Social workers
Ehrlichman’s schedule
-9-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sept. 2010)
Conversation No. 886-7 (cont’d)
Food prices
-News summary
-Press coverage
-Lyndon K. (“Mort”) Allin
-White paper
-James W. McLane
-Statements on diet
-Meat
-Fish
-Balanced diet
-Fair prices
-President's example
-Chicken consumption
-Fish consumption
-Florida
-Virginia H. Knauer's comments
-Shopping
-Beef
-President's actions
-Press coverage
-Hugh Scott's comments
-Ronald L. Ziegler's briefing
-Scott's comments
-Earl L. Butz
-Problems
-Republican Party
-Influence of Agriculture Department
-Stockpile problem
-Butz's undermining
-Use of discretionary powers
-Memorandum from President
-Opposition to President's policy on stockpiles
-Stockpiles
-Administration team
-Frederic V. Malek and member of Kenneth R. Cole, Jr.’s staff
-Visits to Cabinet officers
-Ehrlichman’s meeting with Butz
-Price controls
-Simon
-10-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sept. 2010)
Conversation No. 886-7 (cont’d)
-Phase III economic controls
-Pressure from Wall Street
Simon
-Judgment of food price
-Wall Street
-Bernard J. (\"Bunny\") Lasker, Nicholas S. Nunzio [?]
-President’s comments
-Work with Shultz
-Food prices
-Ehrlichman’s conversation with Shultz
Economy
-Simon, John T. Dunlop, Shultz, Arthur F. Burns
-Budget cuts
-Prime rates
-Increases
-Simon
-Jawboning
-Phase III economic controls
-Lack of confidence
-Wall Street reaction
-Lack of confidence
-Dunlop
-View of economic problems
-Optimism
-Dealings with labor
-Railroads
-Rubber
-Shultz
-Work with George Meany
-Gross National Product [GNP]
-Inflation rate
-Phase II, Phase III
-Optimism
-Campaign issue
-Press coverage
-Food prices
-Administration's responses
-11-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sept. 2010)
Conversation No. 886-7 (cont’d)
-Effectiveness
-Administration's policymakers
-Shultz, Herbert Stein and Paul W. McCracken
-Competence
-Ehrlichman's judgment
-Recession of 1970
-Mildness
-Conditions
-Press coverage
-Effect on public attitudes
-Vietnam settlement
-Prisoners of War [POWs] return
-Wounded Knee incident
-Prices
-Watergate
-Impoundment
-Congressional relations
-Portrayal of crises
President's second administration
-Eastern establishment
-Sense of panic
-Office of Economic Opportunity [OEO] issue
-Fear of success, activism
-OEO issue
-Howard J. Phillips
-Misinterpretation
-William T. Cahill [?]
-Patrick J. Buchanan
-Speeches
-Clearance with Ehrlichman
-Vice President Spiro T. Agnew
-Public statements
-Defense of L. Patrick Gray, III
-President’s defense of Sherman Adams
-Dwight D. Eisenhower
-Phillips
-Criticisms
-Clearance of speeches
-12-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sept. 2010)
Conversation No. 886-7 (cont’d)
-Criticism of administration
-Vietnam War
-Peace with honor
-December 1972 bombing of North Vietnam
-Peace groups prolonging war
-Kissinger
-Return of POW's
-Public reception
Vietnam
-POWs
-Capt. James A. Mulligan, Jr.
-Appearance on television [TV]
-Columbia Broadcast System
-News summary
-Accent
-Statements
-Support for President
-Necessity of 1972 December 1972 bombing
-Criticism of CBS, US visitors to Hanoi
-Prolonging war
-Effect on POW morals
-Propaganda for North Vietnamese
-Patriotism
-Flag
-National anthem
-December 1972bombing
-Impact on outcome of war, morale of POWs
-Statements
-Collection and publication
-Title
-December 1972 bombing
-Distribution
-Press coverage
-John F. Kennedy, Franklin D. Roosevelt
-Impact on public
-POW statements
-George S. McGovern
-Hobart D. (“Hobe”) Lewis
-13-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sept. 2010)
Conversation No. 886-7 (cont’d)
-Administration involvement
Udall bill
-Lewis
-Free speech
Impoundment
-Gerald R. Ford
-Statement
-Budget deficit
-Public relations
-Tax increase
-Figures
-Amount impounded
-Comparison with Lyndon B. Johnson administration
Watergate
-Gray
-Ziegler's statement
-Testimony to Congress
-White House instructions
-Investigation
-Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI] raw files
-Administration position
-Gray testimony
-Release to Congress
-J. Edgar Hoover precedent
-Opposition
-Proper procedures
-Administration's policy
-Publicity
-News summary
-President's past statements
-Lowell P. Weicker, Jr.
-Questioning
-Committee's questions
-Watergate
-Gray's instructions
-Deal between Richard G. Kleindienst and James O. Eastland
-14-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sept. 2010)
Conversation No. 886-7 (cont’d)
-Confusion
-Ziegler's statements
-Administration's policy
-President's instructions
-FBI raw files
-Constraints
-Kleindienst
-Press conferences
Press conferences
-Staff meeting
-Press relations
-Kleindienst
-Reluctance
-Management issue
Law enforcement
-Administration's advantages
-Martin Z. Agronsky and other critics
-Capital punishment
-Drug abuse
-Capital Punishment
-State laws
-Kahn
-Comparison with Counterreformation
-Divestiture of federal power
-Opposition
-Revenue sharing
New federalism
-Divestiture of power
-Responsibility to localities
-Walter H. Judd's campaign speech in 1960
-Analogy about daughter
-Law enforcement
-Increased toughness
-Permissiveness
-Attacks on drug pushers
-Kleindienst
-15-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sept. 2010)
Conversation No. 886-7 (cont’d)
-Ethical tone one of society
-Watergate
-Rejection of permissiveness
-1960s
-Opposition to law
-Radicals
-Disrespect for flag
-Pornography
-Respect for patriotism, family, religion
-Role of government
-Local government
-Law enforcement
-Welfare
-Trickle-down theory
-Poor
-President's goals
-1973 inaugural speech
-Comparison with Kennedy's 1961 inaugural speech
-Comparison with universities
-Ministers
-Compassion
-Criminals
-Murderers, rapists
-Role of parents
-Administration's goals
-Toughness
-Law enforcement
-Drug abuse
-Developmentally disabled
-Press opposition
-Isolationism in foreign policy
-Strength of US
-Threat to world
-Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy, McGovern
Human nature
******************************************************************************
-16-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sept. 2010)
Conversation No. 886-7 (cont’d)
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]
-Christian Scientists
-Quakerism
-Inherent character
-Impossibility of perfection
[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
******************************************************************************
-Religious beliefs
-Jean Jacques Rousseau
-Noble savages
-Civilization
-Evil nature
-Bible
-Two versions of Creation
-Fall from Grace
-Old Testament
-New Testament
******************************************************************************
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]
-Religious sermons
-Hellfire and damnation
-President’s dislike
[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
******************************************************************************
-Contemporary US
-Softness
-Episcopalians
-Presbyterians
-Humanism
-17-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sept. 2010)
Conversation No. 886-7 (cont’d)
-Religious mystery
-Youth
-Reversion to fundamentalism
-Jesus freaks
Press relations
-Food prices
-Law and order
-Agnew
-Support for Gray
Summer youth program
-Administration's plans
-Positive publicity
-Cole's briefing
-Clearance process
-Mayors, Congress
-Summer violence
-Funding
-Summer violence
-Respectability
-Press coverage
-Blacks
-Jesse L. Jackson
-Projection of attitude
-Vernon L. Jordan
-Criticism of administration
-Conversation with Ehrlichman
-Cabinet meeting
-Revenue-sharing
-New Reconstruction
-Stanley S. Scott
-Arthur Fletcher
-Black colleges
-Problems
-Jordan
-Criticism of administration
-Ehrlichman’s response
-Funding cuts
-18-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sept. 2010)
Conversation No. 886-7 (cont’d)
-“Good Indian”
Rogers C. B. Morton [?]
Ehrlichman left at an unknown time before 10:12 am.